from the security cameras at the entrance of this place. As for Jamia Roundtree, she’s just another privileged woman. She thought nothing of having an affair with Underwood, although he was already involved with Maria Tindal. I can’t help wondering why she’s with Johnnie. She’s obviously the one with the money, thanks to her parents. Underwood has to bring something to the table.”
At that moment a call from headquarters came through the car phone. Drew placed the call on speakerphone. “Detectives Logan and Oliver.”
“This is Bobby.”
“Hi, Bobby, what do you have for us?”
“Information on the murder weapon. Just as I figured, it was a knife with a thick blade. Similar to one found in a kitchen.”
“A kitchen knife?” Toni asked in surprise.
“I would say so. One with a thick handle.”
“Thanks, Bobby.” Drew ended the call.
“I wonder if the killer brought their own or used one from Maria Tindal’s kitchen.”
“I don’t know. But I suggest we revisit the crime scene and find out.”
ANDREW AND TONI ARRIVED once again at Maria Tindal’s home. Crime scene tape surrounded the structure with huge “Do Not Enter” signs above the door. Getting out of the cruiser, they slid their hands into gloves, then ducked their heads under the tape and headed for the door. Using the official department key, they went inside.
The smell of death assaulted Andrew’s nostrils. He should have been used to it by now, but he wasn’t. And the fact that he’d met the victim before her life was taken, and had known she was a likable person, rattled him and made him more determined than ever to find her killer.
Closing the door behind them, he and Toni walked toward the kitchen. “I remember checking the knives in the rack on the counter, and all six were accounted for. But I didn’t pull anything out to check anything further,” Toni said.
They took their time and drew out the knives, checking each one carefully under Andrew’s cell phone flashlight. Although it was still daylight outside, the lighting in the kitchen left a lot to be desired. Toni was standing close to him, and her closeness was getting to him. He was fighting hard not to let it.
“Look, Drew.”
Toni’s words caught his attention. When he stared at the knife they were holding under the light, he saw the same thing she did—a reddish substance was embedded slightly under the handle of the knife. He pulled a plastic evidence bag out of his pocket and slid the knife inside.
He glanced over at her and smiled. “I think we’ve located the murder weapon.”
Toni nodded. “That means she was killed with her own knife. But who would take the time to wash the blood off of it, and then put it back in the rack like that?”
“Makes you wonder what else they did before they left,” Andrew said, glancing around.
At that moment, the phone on his belt rang. He pressed the talk button. “This is Detective Logan.”
“This is Joanie in Dispatch. We received a call from Morrow’s Gun Range. They pulled that footage you ordered. It’s ready for pickup.”
“Thanks, Joanie. Can you please send an officer to the Tindal crime scene? We’ve got a possible murder weapon.” He clicked off the call and looked over at Toni. “Bobby and his team will find out for sure.”
“What about Byron Nettles?” Toni asked as they left the kitchen and headed for the door. The man was next on their list to interview. He was the one Pamela Larkins had told them had been making a nuisance of himself with Maria Tindal.
“We’ll pay him a visit after we pick up the footage from the gun range. They have video cameras all around, including the parking lot,” Andrew said, locking the door to the crime scene on their way out. They had also ordered the footage from the security station into the area where Jamia Roundtree lived. He hoped to be able to look at them within twenty-four hours.
A cruiser pulled up and two officers got out. “We need you to get this to the crime lab,” Andrew said, giving the plastic bag containing the knife to one of the officers.
After the officers left, Andrew glanced over at Toni. “Do you want to stop and grab something for lunch?”
Toni shook her head as they walked toward the car. “I’m not hungry. But if you are, we can certainly stop somewhere.”
He shook his head. “No, I’m fine, too. I just was thinking about you.”